force

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

n. compulsion, coercion; strength, brawn, power, might; meaning, import, effect; troops, soldiery, army (see combatant). See vigor.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

1. [Physical power]

Syn. strength, energy, might; see strength 1 .

2. [Physical power exerted against a person or thing]

Syn. coercion, violence, compulsion, duress; see oppression 1 , restraint 2 .

3. [The power to act effectively]

Syn. forcefulness, vitality, energy, vigor, assertiveness, dominance, competence, persistence, willpower, drive, determination, effectiveness, efficiency, efficacy, authority, strength, impressiveness, intensity, vehemence, dynamism, capability, potency, power, puissance, punch*, push*, gumption*, oomph*, pizazz*.

Ant. weakness, impotence, incompetence.

4. [A group organized for joint action]

Syn. band, crew, detachment, team, troop, cell, division, unit, contingent; see also army 2 , organization 3 .

• in force,

Syn.

5. in full strength, totally, all together; see all 2 .

6. operative, valid, in effect; see working .

See Synonym Study at strength . v.

1. [To use force]

Syn. compel, coerce, press, drive, make, impel, constrain, oblige, urge, push, thrust, propel, urge forward, obligate, necessitate, require, enforce, demand, order, decree, command, inflict, burden, impose, fix, apply, insist, exact, draft, dragoon, blackmail, extort, bind, put under obligation, contract, charge, restrict, limit, pin down, choke out, bring pressure to bear upon, pressure, bear hard upon, bear down upon, obtrude on, break through, bludgeon, steamroller, ram down one's throat*, put the squeeze on*, high-pressure*, strong-arm*, put the screws on*, twist one's arm*, smoke out*.

2. [To break open]

Syn. burst, pry open, prize open, break into, extort, wrest, undo, use a bar on, assault, jimmy, crack*, crack open*, bust*, bust open*.

3. [To rape]

Syn. violate, attack, assault; see rape .

4. [To capture by assault]

Syn. take, win, overcome, overpower; see seize 2 .

Syn.- force implies the exertion of power in causing a person or thing to act, move, or comply against his or its resistance and may refer to physical strength or to any impelling motive [forced the protestors into the van, circumstances forced him to lie ] ; compel implies a driving irresistibly to some action, condition, etc. [ hunger compelled him to look for work ] to coerce is to compel submission or obedience by the use of superior power, intimidation, threats, etc. [ troops coerced the crowd to disperse ] ; constrain implies the operation of a restricting force and therefore suggests a strained, repressed, or unnatural quality in that which results [ a constrained laugh ]

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus)

I

n.

1. power strength, vigor, might, energy, velocity, momentum, pressure, horsepower, *muscle, drive, pull, weight, stress, potency, impetus. ''The blind wild beast.''— Alfred Lord Tennyson.

2. coercion compulsion, constraint, duress, bullying, arm-twisting, violence.

3. military power army, navy, air power, troops, infantry, division, squadron, regiment.

ANT.: 1. impotence, weakness

II

v.

coerce, compel, oblige, arm-twist, strong-arm, constrain, pressure, press, make, *railroad, exact, push, drive, necessitate, wrest, *put the screws to.

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) I noun 1. Capacity or power for work or vigorous activity: animation, energy, might, potency, power, puissance, sprightliness, steam, strength. Informal: get-up-and-go, go, pep, peppiness, zip. See ACTION. 2. Power used to overcome resistance: coercion, compulsion, constraint, duress, pressure, strength, violence. See ATTACK. 3. Effective means of influencing, compelling, or punishing: power, weight. Informal: clout, muscle. See OVER, STRONG. 4. The strong effect exerted by one person or thing on another: impact, impression, influence, repercussion. See AFFECT. 5. The capacity to exert an influence: forcefulness, magnetism, power. See STRONG. 6. A group of people organized for a particular purpose: body, corps, crew, detachment, gang, team, unit. See GROUP. II verb 1. To cause (a person or thing) to act or move in spite of resistance: coerce, compel, constrain, make, obligate, oblige, pressure. See ATTACK. 2. To compel by pressure or threats: blackjack, coerce, dragoon. Informal: hijack, strong-arm. See PERSUASION. 3. To compel (another) to participate in or submit to a sexual act: assault, rape, ravish, violate. See SEX.